Apple iPhone 11 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 11 Pro commands premium positioning with exceptional build quality, cohesive ecosystem integration, and the proven A13 Bionic performance across three rear cameras including optical zoom. Samsung's Galaxy S23 FE counters with superior value, delivering a larger 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED display, higher resolution 50MP main camera, 5G connectivity, and significantly better battery capacity at 4500mAh versus 3046mAh. Processing power slightly favors the newer Snapdragon/Exynos lineup, though A13 remains snappy for daily tasks. Camera systems differ philosophically: iPhone prioritizes optical zoom and computational photography, while Galaxy emphasizes megapixels and sensor technology. Battery longevity heavily favors the S23 FE, providing noticeably longer endurance with faster 25W charging. For users prioritizing ecosystem cohesion and premium materials, iPhone 11 Pro justifies its cost. Practical-minded buyers seeking modern features, longer battery life, and 5G at $400 less should choose the Galaxy S23 FE.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 11 Pro if…
- →Triple camera system with Night mode
- →Compact 5.8-inch OLED with great color accuracy
- →18W fast charger included in the box
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if…
- →Flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and IP68 at a lower price
- →Bright 1450-nit display for good outdoor visibility
- →3x optical zoom telephoto is rare in this price range
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
Pros
- Triple camera system with Night mode
- Compact 5.8-inch OLED with great color accuracy
- 18W fast charger included in the box
- A13 Bionic was the fastest mobile chip in 2019
- Premium matte glass finish
Cons
- No 5G support
- 60Hz display refresh rate
- Smaller battery than Pro Max
- Wide notch design
- Starting at $999 for 64 GB was steep
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Pros
- Flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and IP68 at a lower price
- Bright 1450-nit display for good outdoor visibility
- 3x optical zoom telephoto is rare in this price range
- Four years of OS updates guaranteed
- Wireless charging with reverse wireless PowerShare
Cons
- Exynos 2200 variant has weaker performance and efficiency
- Only 25W wired charging is slow for 2023
- Gorilla Glass 5 is older protection than Victus 2
- 8 MP telephoto resolution is low
- Heavier at 209 g due to older processor thermals
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 11 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 13 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 188 g | 209 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, textured matte glass | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 144 x 71.4 x 8.1 mm | 158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 10 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.0, 2x optical zoom | 8 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3046 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 5.8 inches | 6.4 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2436 x 1125 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1450 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.65 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Xclipse 920 / Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Apple A13 Bionic | Samsung Exynos 2200 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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